In Windows 8 and Windows RT, Microsoft is aiming for a pleasant out-of-the-box experience. There's an app store for filling in gaps and adding functionality that isn't provided up front, but the core apps to power your communications with friends and colleagues come bundled with the operating system. There is Mail, Messaging, Calendar, and an innovative “People” app that brings all your contacts from various sources together into one central, interactive hub.

All four core apps have promise in one way or another, especially the People app, which integrates with social media sites to provide more than the basic functionality you’d expect from a contacts application.

Microsoft isn't trying to create a replacement for Outlook here—after all, they don't want to give users any reasons not to buy Office. In general, the apps have just enough functionality to get by. They’re passable for casual tablet usage, but Windows 8 is for both tablets and PCs—and these applications will be lackluster if you try to use them to power your whole work day. There’s also a chance you’ll run into some bugs that make life a bit more frustrating than it was in Windows 7 or on competing tablet interfaces.

In this article we will look at the four core communication apps. In addition, there is now Skype, which was released a couple of days before Windows 8 as a downloadable program from the Windows Store. The presence of Skype makes the Messaging application’s limited functionality more tolerable, and Skype’s integration into People helps turn a Windows 8 tablet into something very much like a phone. As such, we’ll look at how Skype provides some crucial functionality beyond what’s strictly out-of-the-box.

I’ve been using the core apps for the past few weeks, on both a tablet (the version of the Samsung Series 7 11.6” Slate given to Windows developers for Windows 8 testing purposes) and in a virtual machine with a traditional mouse-and-keyboard setup. I’ve been keeping the OS and applications updated to make sure I'm not missing out on any new bits of functionality or bug fixes.

As mentioned, there are bugs. I won’t claim these bugs will affect everyone, or even the majority, as I’ve heard from others that they’re running the apps without incident. However, searching Microsoft’s support forum will show various problems with the apps, and I suffered through several of them. In particular, I had trouble starting conversations with certain contacts in the instant messaging app, and problems getting the Mail/Calendar integration to work (e.g. accepting invitations from Mail).

These applications are updated through the Windows Store, which provides a simpler update method than the traditional Windows Update. We've seen the apps updated a few times in the past few weeks, adding functionality such as conversation view in e-mail. There's nothing stopping Microsoft from continuing to improve them: hopefully, future updates will fix any remaining bugs and perhaps even add some new features.

People: A great idea, executed mostly well

We’ll start with the highlight. The People app (which originated in Windows Phone) brings together contacts from Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and your e-mail accounts, including Hotmail, Exchange, and Gmail. Oddly, Yahoo Mail contacts cannot be added to People, even though Yahoo Mail can be used in the Windows 8 Mail application.

Once you’ve linked all those accounts to People, you’ll have a sprawling mass of contacts that’s not easy to get a handle on. Luckily, there’s an option to show contacts only from certain accounts, limiting the list to, say, just e-mail contacts rather than ones from social networks. Even if you do this, it's still useful to keep the social integration intact because the app will combine your Facebook and Twitter notifications into one giant feed.

Inside the application, you can see recent activity from Twitter and Facebook:

There's also a notification stream that shows the last week's worth of Twitter mentions and Facebook notifications you’ve received. Clicking on any one of them opens a new screen in which you can post a reply to Facebook or Twitter without having to leave the People application:

On the Windows 8 Start screen, the People live tile will scroll through your most recent social notifications. This is handy, because as of yet the Windows Store has no official Facebook or Twitter application to provide those updates in the live tile format. There's one annoying side effect to this, related to the fact that clicking a live tile doesn't necessarily take you directly to the content being shown that moment by the live tile. For example, you might see a Facebook notification on the live tile, but clicking it will bring you to whichever part of the People app you've accessed most recently.

Thus, I would often click the tile expecting to see my latest Facebook and Twitter updates, and find that I'd have to perform a few touch gestures to get into the notifications page I was looking for. If you go into notifications from another part of the app, it will refresh them with the latest tweets and Facebook posts. But in cases when the notifications screen was the last one you accessed, and it thus appears immediately upon opening the app, you'll have to manually refresh the page to see the latest content. This requires swiping up from the bottom or down from the top to reveal the "app bar," which includes the refresh icon.

Once you've got a fully updated notifications screen, it's not exactly perfect. For one thing, the updates are truncated to less than 140 characters, so you can't see a whole tweet unless you click on it.

Drilling down into a single contact shows you the person's latest social updates, new photos, and the like. The app bar includes options for saving them as a favorite or pinning them to the Start screen, while swiping in from the right to bring up the charm bar lets you share the contact via e-mail. The individual contact pages, of course, also let you contact the person via e-mail or IM, or call them via Skype.

Throughout most of Windows 8's availability in its RTM phase, the call button wouldn't work because Skype for Windows 8 didn't exist yet. That was rectified several days ago when Skype appeared in the Windows Store. Assuming you have it installed, clicking "call" in someone's contact page now takes you to Skype and lets you call their landline or cell phone, if you've got money in your account:

Enlarge/ I'm in the bottom right, holding a tablet, and contorting my body to hit "Windows key + Print Screen" to take a screen shot.

Between the integration with Skype, and blurring the lines between a traditional contacts list and social networks, Microsoft's People app is a smart take on how to provide a central hub for keeping in touch with friends and colleagues on mobile devices and PCs. While not perfect, it goes beyond what’s offered out-of-the-box in rivals iOS and Android. Unfortunately, the rest of the core communication apps in Windows 8 aren't nearly as interesting, and rarely go past the most basic features you'd expect in typical mail, messaging, and calendar applications.

Microsoft seems incapable of releasing two good versions of Windows in a row. The tablet experience is supposed to be pretty decent, but I think they've really botched the workstation use-case. Why am I punished for not being able to fit all of my computing in a 10" touchscreen?

I not sure how fun win8 on tablet but I know how troublesome it does on PC .

at my working place we have a win2012 server running . it's really troublesome to use

That's one word for it! The my remote-KVM has a lot of trouble with the hotcorners. Since I don't have a touchscreen in my server racks, the new "start screen" is a huge disappointment. My computers all have mice and keyboards, why can't I have an interface designed for those tools?

I tried using the Metro apps for a bit when I installed Windows 8 over the weekend, but like this article states, they're plainly terrible on the desktop. I unpinned most of them and now largely use the entire metro interface as a so-so app launcher.

Luckily the desktop portion of Windows 8 is extremely polished and feels like a decent evolutionary upgrade from Windows 7, and it really only took an hour or so of use to get used to the lack of a start menu..

I gave some of the Metro apps the college try, but I saw little reason to use them. They're clunky on a desktop, and use screen space inefficiently (in the sense of I have to either have it focused on one of my three screens, or not see it at all). For each of these applications I have manageable windows (via a web browser or otherwise) and have no need for steal-all-your-space apps.

That being said, don't let the Metro apps dissuade you from upgrading. I've noticed great speed improvements and enjoy the enhancements and other goodies in the desktop portion of Windows 8.

I think this is a good overview and fairly written Jon. That apps have made significant strides since their introduction in the CP, and I would expect continued improvements with time.

I think it helps if one recognizes that these are basically mobile apps, and as such they will not always be suited (or intended) for desktop power scenarios. (Perhaps someday, but that's surely not the goal out the gate.) Consider that desktop users are under no obligation to use any of the Metro apps, and the apps can be unpinned from Start or uninstalled altogether very easily.

Though for users with a laptop or hybrid (with touch or even a good trackpad supporting Windows 8 gestures) these apps may have a place alongside desktop software.

Definitely the thing that annoys me the most is not being able to run the metro apps in a window. On a 30" monitor or even 2 x 24" monitors anytime a metro app opens if feels like a waste of computing resources. 30 years of computer innovation toward multi-tasking down the drain.

All they need to do is implement an easily accessible setting for "keyboard and mouse mode" and an api to let dockable hardware automatically trigger the setting. In keyboard/mouse mode all metro apps would launch in their own resizable window. When switching back to tablet mode those metro apps would kick back into full screen mode.

As it is now I can't bare having these metro apps on my desktop computer. The new Skype is a perfect example. Microsoft could have dropped the "desktop" version of Skype if metro apps could be run in a window. However, given the current full screen limitation of metro apps I'll just stop using Skype if they decide to drop the desktop version.

Microsoft is forcing a fragmented market where it could have been a little bit unifying.

Definitely the thing that annoys me the most is not being able to run the metro apps in a window. On a 30" monitor or even 2 x 24" monitors anytime a metro app opens if feels like a waste of computing resources. 30 years of computer innovation toward multi-tasking down the drain.

As someone who also uses a 30" monitor, I disagree. I think 30 years of braindead "we've always used windows so lets continue using them" follow the herd computer design, is finally winning out to something innovative. There was a massive argument in the early days about wether to actually use windows or not, and then everyone stopped debating it at all, despite many other ideas having real merit.

They definitely have some design flaws to deal with, but overall the tile interface is much closer to how I use my 30" workstation than any other operating system has ever been. I wish it was more flexible in terms of how many tiles can be visible side by side, and had better shortcuts for quickly jumping from one group of tiles to another, but it's a giant leap towards the dodgy window setup I've put together on a windowed system using various third party tools.

Not sure why the Jon did not get this right, there is a reason why both touch friendly and workhorse applications exists on this platform.

The simple answer is, you simply cannot do everything in touch. At some point you need the precision of mouse and keyboard. Also, if you make touch screens complex they too get frustrating (try using Windows 7 in touch mode). So the multitasking, and gazillion windows open do not make sense at all in touch friendly applications hence the limit of 2 side by side in Windows 8. If you need anything beyond that you need applications designed for mouse and keyboard, hence the traditional desktop. What Microsoft is done is it has both these options available, unlike other platforms. So truly no compromise solution.

Your title is completely misleading, nothing disappointing about touch applications if you are using touch.

If you've followed Windows 8 development over the past year, you know that Microsoft does indeed intend for people to use Metro applications including the ones reviewed here with a mouse and keyboard, as well as in touch mode.

Also, the app's limitations (and bugs) are frustrating no matter how you use them.

I know their own map app isn't even able to display my current location, it's not even close. Their own stock app is not capable of displaying all stock symbols either. If they are going to release this, at least fix the bugs.

Most of the apps are crap. I am waiting for the weather.com app to come out, I expect that app to be decent. All the other weather apps are crap though. The calendar app is ok.

They claim tons of apps are added every day, but I sure don't see them. It's always the same apps listed in the recently added list.

I enjoyed Ars's windows 8 coverage particularly. They have done critical review of many aspects of the new OS...way more in depth than any other site. It'll help readers to make informed decisions hopefully.

Request: I'd like to see some benchmarks on battery life and application launch times.

You should start by asking the question: for who are these built-in apps? Not for what device, but for who? In what situation?

You started by saying 'getting through a workday'. These apps aren't for a workday, they are for casual use. And for users who don't get all complexities of the desktop. The new apps are for these people. Not power users on a workday.

I have used the Gmail webapp for years now. Never opened multiple windows. Don't use labels. Don't use rules. Etc. The Email app does the same for me. If I really need to check another mail while writing, I'll save the mail as concept and get back to it. Simple concept. Works fine for me. Works fine for my mother. Works fine for my girlfriend.

On my work it's different; there I use mail as a power user. That's where Office comes in. So start by asking yourself: am I the target user? Should I install a more powerful third party app? Should I use the desktop?

I enjoyed Ars's windows 8 coverage particularly. They have done critical review of many aspects of the new OS...way more in depth than any other site. It'll help readers to make informed decisions hopefully.

Request: I'd like to see some benchmarks on battery life and application launch times.

If you put it that way! i guess you are right. Next time i buy a non-apple computer, i am pretty sure is going to have Win8 installed on it. I really don't mind since there's no option! Win8 looks great.

I was just thinking that the Arstechnica's coverage was a little over the top. I was getting paranoid . But it seems that there is demand for it.

I am running Win8 on i5 with 4 GB RAM (Laptop) and the system is running damn slow on Metro side. People going gaga over new IE but I found that Metro APP the most frustratingly slow and buggy. I actually liked the News, Sports and Travel apps but again they are slow to load and sometimes get un-responsive. All the cool stories in those apps and you want to share them with your friends on Twitter or facebook? No luck. People app is not integrated with Travel app for example. Now who wants to send an e-mail to 200 friends? I can't believe that hours of testing and feedback meant nothing to People and Travel App teams. Sharing Button on the right hand sidebar means very little. I tried USAToday App and it does allow sharing over twitter and facebook. If they can do it, why can't MS. Likewise there are many many things which would give you a sour taste in your mouth for a brand new operating system. I regret upgrading on the first weekend. Hope thing improve thick and fast.

I not sure how fun win8 on tablet but I know how troublesome it does on PC .

at my working place we have a win2012 server running . it's really troublesome to use

That's one word for it! The my remote-KVM has a lot of trouble with the hotcorners. Since I don't have a touchscreen in my server racks, the new "start screen" is a huge disappointment. My computers all have mice and keyboards, why can't I have an interface designed for those tools?

I'll certainly give you mouse issues, but keyboard navigation on win8 is still really good. There really needs to be a "useful shortcuts" page or something though because they're not very discoverable (or maybe there is and it's not discoverable either!).

I've been playing around with the preview for the last week or two but I finally got the release version of Win 8 running on my MacBook Air under Boot Camp and Parallels today. Microsoft seemed to put every conceivable barrier in my way, but I got it done and I'm very happy with the result. This is the first time I can say that a Windows VM works as a very smooth complement to OS X - all it took was an i7, 8GB RAM and an SSD.

These social 'core apps' are just so much detritus to me, but I can run Windows CAD/EDA tools easily as well as certain crusty old business applications that I no longer have to relegate to a desktop PC in the office. Windows and Mac living together; I wonder if Egon would blame that East Coast storm on me. Any sign of Gozer out there?

You should start by asking the question: for who are these built-in apps? Not for what device, but for who? In what situation?

You started by saying 'getting through a workday'. These apps aren't for a workday, they are for casual use. And for users who don't get all complexities of the desktop. The new apps are for these people. Not power users on a workday.

I have used the Gmail webapp for years now. Never opened multiple windows. Don't use labels. Don't use rules. Etc. The Email app does the same for me. If I really need to check another mail while writing, I'll save the mail as concept and get back to it. Simple concept. Works fine for me. Works fine for my mother. Works fine for my girlfriend.

On my work it's different; there I use mail as a power user. That's where Office comes in. So start by asking yourself: am I the target user? Should I install a more powerful third party app? Should I use the desktop?

I agree that it's buggy though.

Problem is that MS plans to push metro as the future of windows computing. If this wasn't the case it would not be such an issue. I really don't like that kind of future. I kinda like having tons of windows open and doing multitasking instead of one at the time program that has very low density information so that it can be used with fingers.

All in all I hope that people refuse to do win8 (yes I now you can remove metro with start 8 and classic shell) until MS drops this silly idea of computing going back to single tasking.

As someone who also uses a 30" monitor, I disagree. I think 30 years of braindead "we've always used windows so lets continue using them" follow the herd computer design, is finally winning out to something innovative. There was a massive argument in the early days about wether to actually use windows or not, and then everyone stopped debating it at all, despite many other ideas having real merit.

They definitely have some design flaws to deal with, but overall the tile interface is much closer to how I use my 30" workstation than any other operating system has ever been. I wish it was more flexible in terms of how many tiles can be visible side by side, and had better shortcuts for quickly jumping from one group of tiles to another, but it's a giant leap towards the dodgy window setup I've put together on a windowed system using various third party tools.

Sounds like you'd like a good tiling window manager. There are tons of those for Linux and other *nixes, and I suspect many of those who really preferred such things continue to use them. (They're not my thing, personally, but to each his own.)

Microsoft isn't trying to create a replacement for Outlook here—after all, they don't want to give users any reasons not to buy Office.

Therein lies the problem: if they don't give users a reason not to buy Office, some other company will. Now they're stuck with one product running out of reasons to exist, and another that is too gimped for its own good. Have they learned nothing from history?

E-mail multi-tasking pretty much non-existentThey have this product called Outlook they really like to sell with Office. It makes them more money per copy than Windows, so it makes some sense they try not to completely replace it with free appsMissing features (e.g. no ability to flag e-mails, search IM contacts from Messaging app, or invite people to events from Calendar)See above regarding Outlook / Office

I made the same point about Outlook in the article. From the story: "Microsoft isn't trying to create a replacement for Outlook here—after all, they don't want to give users any reasons not to buy Office."

What's also in the story is that the features called out as missing are not just in Outlook, but also in the built-in apps for iOS and Android. iOS and Android can flag e-mails and have the flags sync with the Exchange Server. Inviting people to events is also supported in iOS and Android.

These are basic features in competing tablet platforms, i.e. Microsoft's competition. The built-in apps in iOS and Android can talk to the Microsoft Exchange Server in ways Microsoft's own built-in apps for Windows 8 cannot.

Outlook provides tons of great functionality. I use it every day, and I wouldn't want to go without it. But the extra value you pay for in Outlook goes far, far beyond the basic features called out here. Allowing these apps to talk to the Exchange Server in a few simplistic ways would not diminish the value of Outlook. That's one reason why it's silly to hold back a few basic features that might bring the Windows 8 out-of-the-box experience closer to being on par with iOS and Android.

These apps are published by the Windows Services team (formerly the Windows Live team) and not Windows. As a member of Windows Services, I can tell you that almost everything called out in this review and in the comments thus far has been heard internally, and you'll definitely continue to see bug fixes and feature improvements rolled out through the app store over the coming months, aligned with improvements to the online Windows Services.

Sounds like you'd like a good tiling window manager. There are tons of those for Linux and other *nixes, and I suspect many of those who really preferred such things continue to use them. (They're not my thing, personally, but to each his own.)

You're right, but I've never found a window manager I like on any *nix system except for Mac OS X, and while usable I'm not even very happy with that one.

What's also in the story is that the features called out as missing are not just in Outlook, but also in the built-in apps for iOS and Android. iOS and Android can flag e-mails and have the flags sync with the Exchange Server. Inviting people to events is also supported in iOS and Android.

These are basic features in competing tablet platforms, i.e. Microsoft's competition. The built-in apps in iOS and Android can talk to the Microsoft Exchange Server in ways Microsoft's own built-in apps for Windows 8 cannot.

Stepping away from minor details, it seems like there are a million tiny insignificant features missing from the tile interface in Windows 8.

It's not so bad if you compare the Lumia to a Symbian phone, or Surface to a Kindle Fire, but when you compare Windows 8 to Windows 7 it really falls apart.

As a software developer, I understand. It takes years of development to get things right, and you really don't know if a feature is important or not until actual customers in the real world complain that it is missing.

But ultimately, I think we have to place the blame at microsoft's feet. They could have made the tile interface an optional part of windows. They didn't have to replace the start menu with it. They could have only shipped it on tablets/phones and kept desktops/laptops using win32 apps only for another 18 months.

I think they are either over-confidant about how well Windows 8 will be received, or seriously afraid of how fast Android, iOS and (perhaps soon) Chrome OS are growing in the market.

jbrodkin wrote:

Outlook provides tons of great functionality. I use it every day, and I wouldn't want to go without it. But the extra value you pay for in Outlook goes far, far beyond the basic features called out here.

I don't use outlook for that. We have a CRM running on a website that replaces all of the important features in outlook, and (for my particular use case) does a much better job of it. My needs for an email client are much simpler and I hate outlook, because it's too big and complicated. But many of the features missing from this mail app are really basic ones that even I cannot live without.